Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Slippery Elm Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbs Etc.

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Slippery Elm is a dietary supplement by Herbs Etc. with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for sore throat and cough, heartburn and acid reflux, digestive upset and ibs.Based on those ingredients, 2,022 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Slippery Elm. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Slippery Elm by Herbs Etc.

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 1 active ingredient.

This product contains one active ingredient: Slippery Elm, the inner bark of the slippery elm tree, traditionally used to soothe the digestive tract. The formula is delivered as a liquid extract in a base of 45% grain alcohol and purified water.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Slippery Elm product and its label doesn't state a use — see Slippery Elm's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence we hold shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate slippery elm for cancer, constipation, cough, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or diarrhea. That means the research so far hasn't established whether it works for these purposes — not that it doesn't work, but that we simply don't have solid data yet.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Slippery Elm

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Slippery elm is generally well tolerated for short-term use, though high-quality safety data are limited. Some people have reported contact dermatitis (skin irritation) from topical slippery elm products, and the pollen can trigger allergies; contact dermatitis and hives have been reported after exposure to slippery elm or compounds in the bark.

The safety data during pregnancy are not robust enough to advise either way, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized guidance. There isn't enough information on safety while breastfeeding to know whether it's appropriate; discuss this with your healthcare provider before using it.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Slippery Elm

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Slippery Elm.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 2,023 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, double-check with your pharmacist or doctor if you take any oral medications (pills, capsules, or liquid drugs you swallow). Slippery elm's mucilage may reduce how much medication your body absorbs, potentially making your drugs less effective.

Spacing them apart typically helps, but your healthcare provider can tell you the right schedule for your specific prescriptions.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Slippery Elm is traditionally used to coat and soothe the digestive tract, but the evidence for its effectiveness in specific conditions isn't established in our data. Because it may slow the absorption of oral medications, you'll want to space it several hours apart from any drugs you take.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it — especially if you take regular medications or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2015.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Slippery Elm, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbs Etc.
Net contents 8 fl. Oz.; 236 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2015
DSLD ID 50414
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses No Claim
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Slippery Elm by Herbs Etc., sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
0 Not Present
Maximum serving Sizes:
0 Not Present
IngredientAmount% DV
Slippery Elm0 NP--

Other ingredients: 45% Grain Alcohol, purified Water

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Herbal Single

Professional strength

Dried inner bark extract

For dispensing purposes only

Formula

Ulmus rubra

FDA Statement of Identity

Fast-Acting Dietary Supplement

General

99198

See for yourself

Slippery Elm by Herbs Etc. label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Slippery Elm by Herbs Etc.

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size0 Not Present Dosage formLiquid Amounts shown are per serving.

Slippery Elm

Interacts with
2,022 drugs
0 NP per serving

Slippery elm is a traditional herbal remedy made from the inner bark of a North American elm tree, used mainly to soothe sore throats and irritated di...

Slippery Elm monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: 45% Grain Alcohol, Purified Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Slippery Elm by Herbs Etc. Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Slippery Elm?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
2,022Drugs
2,022 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Slippery Elm 2,022

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Slippery Elm with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Slippery Elm1 drug type · 2,022 drugs

Oral Drugs

Theoretically, slippery elm may slow the absorption and reduce serum levels of oral drugs.
Slippery elm inner bark contains mucilage, which may interfere with the absorption of orally administered drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Slippery Elm, from the product label.

Herbs Etc.

Name
Herbs, Etc
Street Address
1340 Rufina Cr.
City
Santa Fe
State
NM
ZipCode
87507
Web Address
www.herbsetc.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Slippery Elm by Herbs Etc.: Common Questions

Does Slippery Elm by Herbs Etc. interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Slippery Elm has a known interaction with 2,022 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Slippery Elm contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take Slippery Elm with my other medications?
Not without careful timing. Slippery elm may slow the absorption of oral drugs, so you'll need to space them apart — usually by at least two to four hours. Check with your pharmacist or doctor about the exact schedule for your medications before you start.
Will Slippery Elm help my constipation or diarrhea?
We don't have enough reliable evidence to say whether it works for either condition. That doesn't mean it won't help you, but the research so far hasn't established it clearly.
Is it safe to use Slippery Elm long-term?
It's generally well tolerated for short-term use, but high-quality long-term safety data are limited. If you're thinking about using it regularly, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I use this while breastfeeding?
There isn't enough information on safety while breastfeeding to know whether it's appropriate. Discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist before using it.
What's in the liquid form besides the slippery elm?
The formula contains 45% grain alcohol and purified water as inactive ingredients to carry the slippery elm extract.
Can Slippery Elm cause an allergic reaction?
Yes — the pollen is an allergen, and contact dermatitis (skin irritation) and hives have been reported from exposure to slippery elm or compounds in its bark. If you have a known tree pollen allergy or sensitive skin, talk with your doctor before using this product.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Slippery Elm is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Slippery Elm label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Slippery Elm's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 3 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Slippery Elm 3 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. Czarnecki D, Nixon R, Bekhor P, and et al. Delayed prolonged contact urticaria from the elm tree. Contact Dermatitis 1993;28:196-197. PubMed

See these in context on the Slippery Elm monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring